Saudi Prince Abdel Mohsen Bin Walid Bin Abdulaziz and four other Saudi citizens have been detained in one of Lebanon’s largest drug busts, according to local media and security sources cited by the Telegraph. Authorities at the Beirut airport seized 2.2 tons (2 metric tons) of an amphetamine called fenethylline, along with some cocaine, before the drugs were loaded onto the prince’s private jet.
An AFP source says it was the largest bust in the airport’s history. According to Saudi media, the drugs were in 40 suitcases, bound for Saudi Arabia.
Fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant with the brand name Captagon, is produced in Lebanon and Syria, and is very popular in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf states. Reports have shown that it is widely used by fighters in Syria, allowing them to stay alert during battles.
Foreign Policy points out that Saudi Arabia beheads drug smugglers–but also has a history of letting its royalty off the hook in similar cases.